Copper fuel pipe connection

[robmole5]

Hello, im at a stage in my build where i can start to fit the fuel pipes, im going to be using copper fuel pipe and wanted to know how you would connect the rubber fuel pipe to the copper i.e would you flare the end of the copper and push it over or are there any other type of fittings you can use without flaring to stop the pipe blowing off? Thanks

[slater]

i think fuel lines have been covered before, do a search. Copper is not really a good medium for fuel lines better to go braided if you can,

lewis

[Matt Seabrook]

I have used copper without problems. I flared the ends but used bulkhead fittings to join to braided hose and goodrich fittings.

[Tigger]

I soldered an olive to the end about 10mm from the end, then secured with a jubilee clip just behind it. Never had a problem in 5 years

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Braided has a number of issues too though, worth having a search for the recent threads.

Had a very small fuel leak a month or two back; no petrol dripping out any where, just a fuel smell in the engine bay and residual fuel pressure that would drop like a stone once the engine was turned off. Turned out to be a pinhole leak in one hose, but the fuel would spread out over the surface of the hose, beneath the stainless braid, presumably evaporating rather than dripping. Took a long time to find, and even then ended up once I'd got the suspect length of Aeroquip hose off the car, stripping part of the braid away as a sanity check. Found the hole though.  

[a4gom]

As tigger, olive soldered on.

[20v toy]

No need to solder the olive. Just put the olive on the pipe and tighten a compression fitting onto it. Remove fitting and the olive will be compressed on the pipe and you can use the fitting over and over again to fit more olives.

[Tigger]

No need to solder the olive. Just put the olive on the pipe and tighten a compression fitting onto it. Remove fitting and the olive will be compressed on the pipe and you can use the fitting over and over again to fit more olives.

Good idea for one end but when you get to the other, you won't be able to remove the screwed end coz it will have an olive on it or even worse, 50 clips holding it to the chassis  

[Matt Seabrook]

This is what I have used to joint the coper pipe to the braided pipe.

Bulk head adaptor

[jeff oakley]

This is what I have used to joint the coper pipe to the braided pipe.

Bulk head adaptor

Maybe I am thick but how do you connect that to the copper pipe. I assume you must have a tube nut and a tool to flare the end of the pipe?

[Matt Seabrook]

I have used copper without problems. I flared the ends but used bulkhead fittings to join to braided hose and goodrich fittings.

[Stryder5]

I have read the above with interest, when working in the Automotive Industry as a manufacturer of brake and fuel lines it was discovered that modern unleaded fuels can leach out copper from copper fuel lines, that over time cause deposits on the fuel injectors initiating failure.

No car manufacturer uses copper for fuel lines, I realise that manufacturers are looking long term, however there is an effect.

Brake lines also should not be made from copper, I realise that brake lines on new vehicles look like copper, but this is just a coating that is part of the tri-laminate construction of brake lines that are steel.

Copper tube has a comparatively low burst pressure.

There are other threads I have written here that describe manufacture of brake pipes.

For a few quid I woudn't compromise my safety by using inferior materials.

I use PTFE stainless steel overbraided throughout for brake lines, superior fluid dynamics and perormance.

Rubber flexible hoses have a burst pressure lower than copper.

[Matt Seabrook]

Thanks for that but I really for the milage I do I am not at all concerned by the use of copper.

Also the burst pressure of 3/8 copper pipe is 6000psi a safe working pressure is 1450psi. As for brake pipes the burst pressure is 14000psi and a safe working pressure of 3100psi. I am happy that I have more than enough margin in both brake pipes and fuel lines to not cause a problem.

[jeff oakley]

I have used copper without problems. I flared the ends but used bulkhead fittings to join to braided hose and goodrich fittings.

Okay, without compounding my stupidity, when I looked the tube nuts and the JIC ends were needing a special angle flare, IIRC 37o. I have a Sykes Brake tool with all the ends but the angle was wrong. Did you use one of those or something else to make the flare?

[Matt Seabrook]

Yes Jeff thats what I used and have never had a leak so use with confidence mate.